Hi All,

What a beautiful weekend!

First of all, my compliments to your beautiful children, who sustained a polite, independent "Grand Conversation" on the book Coolies. For 45 minutes they respectfully shared their thoughts about this historical fiction picture book on the Chinese workers who built the transcontinental railroad. Kids mentioned discrimination, family loyalty, asked questions, and made comparisons to other books we've read like Wonder and our Reflections text. Their conversation ended Friday on a bright and powerful note!

On Friday we were also fortunate to have a terrific assembly by the Banana Slug String Band, sponsored by Soquel Creek Water District. In addition, we squeezed in the spelling and vocabulary test and the mid-module test on fractions.

This week will be the final week of RTI, and our last week of spelling words in the homework packet. ( We will still be reading and will still have homework packets!).   Packets during the remainder of the year will be project-oriented. The first project will be a science experiment and  presentation, which will be due on Tuesday, May 10th. Information will be coming home on next week's packet, but kids can start thinking about simple science experiments now.

Fourth Grade will begin state testing in a week, and parent volunteers will be cancelled during the two week window. While we won't be testing for hours and hours each day, our normal schedule will be shifted about somewhat. We will continue with math lessons on some days, but I don't intend to send math homework during the two weeks of testing. As I mentioned above, RTI will end after this week. Instead, our class will be reading the novel Esperanza Rising, by Pam Munoz Ryan, and will have independent Reader's Workshop time as well.

It's hard to believe, but our class has used all the pencils, end cap erasers, wipes, and Kleenex sent in at the beginning of the year. If you can send in a bit more (especially pencils), we'd really appreciate it!

Finally, on Monday I'm sending home permission slips for our field trip to Monterey's Custom and Pacific House museums. It is scheduled for Friday, May 6th. Please return the permission slip and $3 ASAP. Email me if you are able to drive on that day, and already have cleared TB tests and fingerprints on file.

Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

We will continue with our normal routines this week (in terms of homework.). I've been assigning more activities using technology, so if computer access is an issue for your child, I encourage attendance to the After School program at least once a week. Computers are always available during the second hour. We will have 2 more weeks of spelling, and then weekly homework will include some special projects.

State Testing begins for some grades next week, but we won't start for 2 more weeks.

We will be beginning Golden Gulch this week, which is a simulation activity that the kids work on in teams. We will learn a lot more about the gold rush, as well as team work.

Have a great week,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,
Sorry to be tardy; it's hard to give up the last few hours of Spring Break!

Generally, we are following a normal schedule and will have the usual amount of homework, etc. We will stay with that format until state testing. It will begin for Fourth Grade in about 3 weeks, and at that time homework format and content will vary from day to day. When testing ends, we will continue with more varied homework for the remainder of the year.

We are also increasing the amount of time the kids use the Chrome Books. A lot of our writing assignments are being completed digitally, in order to practice those skills for testing and beyond. On that note, I'm encouraging the kids to bring personal headphones if they are able.  I believe the in ear ones will work, as well as any other styles you have on hand. With headphones, the kids will be able to view Brain Pop and You Tube videos, as well as read articles online.

Thanks, and have a great week,
Carroll

Hi All,

This week is short, with lots of excitement due to Spring Break!  The homework packet will consist of a Social Studies Ch. 5/6 Review. We will have a test on these chapters on Thursday. The kids will also have math homework on Tuesday and Wednesday as usual.

On Thursday, the 4th -6th graders will  have the Big Spin. This is the awards ceremony we have every trimester  to recognize students' achievements including sportsmanship, academic achievement (outstanding work ethic), reading (AR word count), attendance, and citizenship. In the final trimester 4th Graders are also eligible for honor roll. After the awards, all students who have not received a pink slip during the trimester are entered in a raffle, and if their name is selected they spin a giant wheel for prizes--thus, the Big Spin.

On other days this week, we will get to see the 2nd grade play, as well as watch the film version of By the Great Horn Spoon. 

On another note, a big thank you to Dawn Nemec. She worked with the kids in class ( and several additional hours at home) to put together a gorgeous auction project from Room 9.

Have a great week, and an awesome vacation!
Best regards,
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,

Awesome rainy weekend!  Too bad it's one hour shorter.

This week homework follows the usual pattern. The majority of the class has been responsible and consistent with their work, but if your child has been struggling with this responsibility, the beginning of the trimester is a terrific time to make a clean start.

Please send signed report card envelopes back with your child. They will be reused in June.

Our class now has its own Chrome Books! Along with all 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes, we have a  cart. This will enable the kids and I to incorporate much more technology throughout the day. We don't yet have headphones, but kids who have them may bring them to use during the appropriate times.

Have a great week!
Carroll Mayer

Hi All,
I hope you're enjoying this rain-filled weekend!

This week, we'll continue our study of fractions. I've been pleased with the kids' understanding of this challenging math concept so far. We'll also continue to focus on analyzing story problems carefully, and applying the strategies that each student prefers to solve them accurately.

We finished our persuasive letters to Congressman Farr, and will be signing and mailing them off this week. We are also nearing the end of our terrific historical novel, By the Great Horn Spoon. Kids may take AR tests on this book when they've completed it. In addition, I've been conferencing with students and setting last trimester AR goals. All students are keeping a goal at least as high as Trimester 2. I am also challenging them again to make 10% of their AR points with nonfiction. The kids read daily in class, but are expected to read a minimum of 20-30 minutes per day outside of school as well. Kids this age also still enjoy listening to books read by their parents!

Report cards will come home this Friday. Please regard the report card as an opportunity for discussion and goal-setting. This final trimester goes by fast, but there is still plenty of time to grow!

Have a great week,

Carroll Mayer

Hi All,
I'm sorry to be tardy with this post. Weekends are just too short!

The trimester ends this Wednesday. I know many kids have been "thinking" about their AR goals, but the deadline is almost here. All AR tests taken after Wednesday will go toward the final trimester's goal. If your child is struggling with meeting their target, please remind them that making mistakes (like not completing work on time) is an opportunity to grow. A missed deadline is a great time to talk about pacing yourself, and making plans. Some kids haven't taken tests on all the books they've read. Others haven't read enough. (They should be reading every night, and also read independently about 25 minutes a day in class.) Finally, please remember that AR is not an end in itself-- it's supposed to be an opportunity for kids to have structured, yet independent reading at their level. If your child is reading a lot, but not taking tests, that's a different challenge.

Aside from that, we continue with fractions this week, and will be for quite a while. Fractions are one of the hardest concepts, and I encourage you to use the YouTube videos as a resource. As with other units, kids will represent and work with fractions in a variety of ways, some of which are new to most adults. Please encourage your child to be open to all the ways.

We have also shifted back to Social Studies, and will be reading about the period leading up to the Gold Rush. Soon, we will be starting a simulation activity called Golden Gulch. Finally, children are wrapping up their persuasive letters to Congressman Sam Farr regarding ocean health, and they will be mailed next week. Please contact me if you do not wish your child to use their home address in their letter.

Have a great week. Report cards will be sent home next Friday, March 11th.

Carroll